Another hero's father speaks out in support

"Came across your blog this morning, and thought I'd share my thoughts as the dad of an American Soldier killed in action four months ago. My son was standing cover flank for two buddies checking out a suspicous location in the roadway while on patrol at 2:20 A.M. 16 Aug when an IED exploded. He was the only one killed. Two soldiers suffered serious injuries and are now home on permanent medical leave, but both will live normal lives after they finish med rehab and surgery. Life is hard when you lose a child; you have children and you think of them burying you and not the other way around. But war brings a nw perspective to the parent child relationship, for the parent is put in a position that they are unable to fulfill a basic parental instinct - protect your child. Losing a child, especially in war and especially with media attention focused on your loss, is difficult. I find myself counting time in weeks - every Monday at 6:20 p.m., I silently remember, maybe with a tear, that X weeks ago Mike died at what was 2:20 a.m. his time on Tuesday; then as the evening goes on, I think, Mike was dead X hours at this time; I then awake on what is my Tuesday mornng, and at 7:00 a.m., I remember the call to my home and the voice saying "Mr. Stokely, this is Maj. Hulsey - please come to the door, you dog won't let us up the driveway and we need to speak to you" and then remembering my fast gait to the driveway and asking, before they can say anything "is my boy dead" and the the words they spoke, with humble sadness in the eyes of Maj. Hulsey and the Chaplin that was with him "we regret to inform you...." But the pain,while there, is more manageable. I think it must be like the rigors and harshness of war - it is always the same, you just adjust. No pity for me is needed, for as a friend said to me, I am lucky to have a son who has brought such honor to his father and the entire family. My son was a man who had a heart that cared deeply for others, and they likewise cared for him. In all of this, so many stories of his simple kindness have been shared with us and touched us. My favorite is the one where he and his buddies had been on continuous duty for several days (their normal day was 22 hours long). He and one of his fellow soldiers had to pull guard duty after being on missions for that continuous period without any sleep. He told his buddy to take a nap and he would stand watch and then they would swap out. For the next six hours, he let his buddy sleep while he stood the whole watch. We miss him so much. We hurt inside. But we burst with pride in our son and brother. His memory will not fade nor will our love for him. When Mike was just becoming a teenager, I tried to imagine what he would be one day. I often told people I wasn't sure where life would take him, but I knew he would do something different and be very well known in his chosen field. I never dreamed he would become an American Hero who would serve his country so well. For whatever reason, the last few days what Cindy Sheehan said "Casey didn't die for a just cause" has been on my mind. Maybe it is because some people have felt comfortable enough four months out to ask me how I felt about Mike's death and whether I thought the cause was "just" enough to justify his sacrifice. My response is that Mike didn't die for a "just cause", he died JUST BECAUSE - just because he loved his country enough to want to serve it since the time he was in middle school; just because he loved his family enough to want to protect them; just because he loved his friends enough that he would rather fight a war "there" than here; just because he believed in our order of government whereby the civilian government rules and the military obeys, and when the President, with lawful authority, calls upon soldiers to go and fight, he believed it was not only his duty, but his honor to go; just because he wouldn't let his fellow soldiers - his guys - go it alone; and just because he wanted to do for others - the Iraqi people - what he would do for his own country. A good friend of our family, Charles Carmical, wrote these words in tribute to Mike - “Would I lay down my life for a country to defend? I willing would if it housed my family and friends." Mike Stokely didn't die for a just cause, he died for a lot of just causes, including the ones I set out above. I wish I were fit to tie his shoe laces but I am fortunate enough to have a son who believed in God, family, duty, honor and country and who certainly turned out to be the better of the two of us. Robert Stokely, Lucky and Proud to be the Dad of SGT Michael "Mike" James Stokely, KIA Operation Iraqi Freedom 16 Aug 05 2nd Platoon, E Troop 108th CAV 48h Brigaded GA NATL GUARD 15 miles south of Baghdad near Yusufiyah / IED

More on Iraqi Freedom....

So, with the Mainstream Media facing a tremendous Iraqi victory over terrorism- what are they to do? How about break a YEAR OLD story about the Bush Administration monitoring only 500 people's emails with Al-Queda? That way, the White House can get no credit for Iraq but once again is made to appear to be a greater threat than Zarqawi. But there is no liberal bias in the media. Here is from Mudville Gazette a great piece on the Iraqi elections and what it means: Marine Major Ben Connable has written a fine editorial regarding how America’s military feels about the current situation in Iraq. Thanks to Stan for bringing it to my attention. Open optimism, whether or not it is warranted, is a necessary trait in senior officers and officials. Skeptics can be excused for discounting glowing reports on Iraq from the upper echelons of power. But it is not a simple thing to ignore genuine optimism from mid-grade, junior and noncommissioned officers who have spent much of the past three years in Iraq.” I’m proud to be one of those noncommissioned officers. Today is election day. Iraqis are voting. A mortar just went off in the distance. So what? The insurgents are going to lose and Iraqis are going to exercise free will by voting. Today is a great day and even though I am nervous and wary, I am honored to be participating in this process. History is being made in this nation today, and it will ripple outward from Baghdad across the Middle East and further. Tsunamis wipe out everything in their path. It is my hope that by being here, I have played a small role in creating a tsunami that will scour Iraq, cleansing it of head choppers, bombers and dictators. When I’m an old man sitting on my porch in North Georgia drinking chai tea with my wife and watching the sunset, I hope an Iraqi will be waking up in Baghdad free to pursue his dream of building a business, writing a book or inventing something new he dreamed about while I was wide awake and living free back home."

December 15 will be Freedom Day...

www.tomelliott.com "My dad, Ben Elliott, former director of speech writing in the Reagan administration, has written a piece on the significance of December 15th: December 15th is a day in history that will change the world. December 15th marks a turning point in the Middle East as millions of Iraqi voters literally carried their country across the rubicon to become the first free and democratic Arab nation. December 15th represents a proud milestone for the US military whose men and women sacrificed life and limb first to liberate Iraq, and then to protect the Iraqi people from terrorists’ savagery bent on murdering their infant nation in its crib. December 15th vindicates the proactive vision of President Bush that rejects appeasement, reaction and retreat in order to confront, combat and ultimately, transform countries that have been the world’s leading merchants of terror. December 15th honors the independence of patriots like Senator Joseph Lieberman who have refused to place party over principle and, in the heat of battle, have stood steadfastly beside the U.S. military and their Commander-in-Chief. December 15th rewards the perseverance of every American who has endured an avalanche of anger and attacks from the left in the media, politics, academia and Hollywood, yet still supports the U.S. mission in Iraq, and still believes in the nobility of our cause. Finally, December 15th reaffirms Abraham Lincoln’s deep belief that the promise within the Declaration of Independence of inalienable rights endowed by our Creator would give liberty not alone to the people of this country, but hope to all the world for all future time. As it does, December 15th, illuminates an even higher, more powerful and transcendent truth: that God’s spirit, working through Americans and Iraqis of faith, courage and good will, can not only bring light where there was darkness, but also heal hatred with friendship and trust between Muslims, Christians and Jews. The mission is not yet complete, but December 15th means victory is truly in sight. What better way to say Happy Hannukah and Merry Christmas.

Freedom Day again in Iraq!!

Today is Election Day for the permanent Legislature in Iraq. All the liberals can talk about is... well....nothing about Iraq! Here are some good reports of the amazing elections- it looks like an even greater number of voters went to the polls than in either of the two previous elections! Then again, as cut and run Murtha has stated time after time "The Iraqis hate us and we have lost the war".. What an idiot.. Highlights: Iraqi journalists & bloggers on the ground for Iraqi elections Compiled in Los Angeles from reporters and bloggers for Pajamas Media including: I.S. in Karbala; W.Z. in Erbil; A.S. in Najaf; N.R. in Mosul; A.D. in Basra; A.T. in Babil; W.A., Omar and Mohammed in Baghdad. All bloggers and reporters worked anonymously due to security issues. Iraq's historic national elections for parliament began with troubling reports that Zarqawi promised a bloody day via the Arabic media, W.A. in Baghdad reported for Pajamas Media, with one widely spread rumor that the water had been poisoned. But Sunni and Shii mosques urged people to vote, and children began playing soccer in the quiet streets of Baghdad, which is 11 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific time. One of the oldest Iraqis believed to have voted, Muhaisin Bidairy Abdullah, said to have been born in 1900, "could hardly breathe with tears visible in his eyes," W.A. reported. A.D. in Basra reported that voters flocked to the polls amidst thick fog in that city, with turnout levels exceeding 84 percent at some polling centers and voters feeling safe enough to walk "in masses down the streets flying Iraqi flags and chanting for democracy in Iraq." I.S. in Karbala and W.Z. in Erbil in a joint report quoted an Iraqi woman at a Karbala polling place holding a tray of cream and cheese who had squeezed her vote in during her job selling dairy products on the sidewalk. A.S. in Najaf -- whose report was delayed while he sought internet access -- toured 10 polling centers and quoted voter Ali-Hassoon al-Badri who said "electing our representatives is a basic right for everyone and it is not a gift from anyone." N.R. in Mosul reported that as the voting deadline drew to a close, "substantial numbers of people [were] coming to the stations" to vote, while Mosul's police command volunteered to drive in voters who lived at a distance from the polls. Ninety minutes after the polls had closed, Mohammed of Iraq the Model in Baghdad reported a full summary of data, including that 600,000 observers of various kinds watched the polls to guard the process, and "countless numbers of conferences, lectures and workshops" had been held to educate and encourage people to vote. W. Z. reported from Erbil that one polling official was so happy with the vote "I can't even feel tired." N.R. in Mosul found that the National Accord Front was doing well because its religious appeal attracted many votes "in spite of the reservations and objections of the educated classes in Mosul." A.T. in Babil reported, humorously, that an election official refused to let Babil's governor cast his ballot "until he showed his i.d. card," and some polling places broke out soft drinks while men and women voters sang celebratory songs. And in Hilla, A.T. reported, the city council provided 125 buses to take voters to the polls.

Remember Pearl Harbor!

Remember Pearl Harbor Some people compared the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the US to Pearl Harbor. An unprovoked attack on sovreign US soil. We went to war over it, and fought three different enemies, on all hemispheres of the globe. World War Two. This was a illustration of our resolve after Pearl Harbor. Where has it gone? Where has the American Fighting Spirit gone?? I know millions of us still possess it. I know millions of Americans support our effort. I want to know this: What would have happened to someone back in 1944 or 1945 who, three years after an attack, and three years after we had been fighting our enemies, decided they had had 'enough' of the war, and wanted us to stop fighting before we completely defeated the Japanese or the Germans?? The poster says "OUR BULLETS WILL DO IT". That is the only way, sometimes.

As bad as Vietnam?

Vietnam: jungle to hide in Iraq: desert you can not hide in Vietnam: Soviet sponsored weapons shipments Iraq: no outside power supporting heavy weaponry Vietnam: 20 year experience in insurgency tactics Iraq: no prior insurgent leaders before liberation of Baghdad Vietnam: 59,000 American dead Iraq: 1750 combat dead Vietnam: SAM Missiles to shoot down USAF assets by the hundreds Iraq: Infrequent shoulder launchers downing a handful of helicopters Vietnam: charismatic revolutionary leader Iraq: no charismatic leadership, only murderous cult figure Vietnam: ability to ambush entire battalions of US troops Iraq: can not even launch direct attacks on Iraqi ISP Other than this, the two situations are the exact same.

Good news from Iraq...

Operation Iron Hammer Launched in Iraq U.S. and Iraqi troops launched Operation Iron Hammer on Nov. 30, the U.S. military announced. The operation is aimed at clearing the Hai Al Becker region, about 106 miles west of Baghdad, of insurgents and securing the area for Iraq's Dec. 15 national elections. Approximately 2,000 U.S. troops are being assisted by about 500 Iraqi army soldiers in the operation.The operation will clear the area of Al Qaeda in the run-up to the Dec. 15 election:The Hai Al Becker region is suspected to be an al Qaeda in Iraq safe area and base of operations for the manufacture of vehicle car bombs, roadside bombs. It is also believed to be a stopping point for terrorists as they transit the ‘rat lines’ down the Euphrates River from Syria into the interior of Iraq. In early July, Iraqi and U.S. Forces established long-term security presence in the city of Hit during Operation Saif (Sword). During Saif, few terrorists were located; however, a score of weapons caches have been discovered in the region. Operation Iron Hammer will clear the area on the eastern side of the Euphrates River, an area not typically patrolled by Iraqi and U.S. Forces.In Babil Province, Iraqis have taken over security operations: The 2nd Iraqi Army Brigade here successfully completed its certification process Nov. 29, military officials reported. From now on, 2nd Brigade will plan and conduct independent operations within its area of responsibility, officials said. Multinational division support will be given only in emergencies by a quick-reaction force, medical evacuation or air support. Multinational division military advisers and trainers will still monitor 2nd Brigade activities, officials said. The 2nd Brigade consists of two battalions located in different places within the province. It numbers about 1,800 soldiers equipped in light armored vehicles with a variety of weapons. The brigade has taken part in five combat operations so far in cooperation with coalition forces. In other news, U.S. troops uncovered a large weapons cache near Kirkuk: Iraqi and U.S. forces have removed more than 4,200 mortar rounds from a major weapons cache found Nov. 27 outside of an abandoned military base near Kirkuk, Iraq, military officials reported. The ammunition was buried under concrete blocks with dirt mounded on top. All ammunition removed so far has come from one mound located in a field full of similar mounds. The explosives ordnance disposal team at the site expects to find more rounds as the search expands throughout the field. "It was a good find," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Wayne, the explosives team chief at the site. "I'm glad we found it over someone else. All those rounds are potential (improvised explosive devices). We just stopped that many more IEDs."